Machine for stretching wire-cloth.



No. 655,9l4. Patenten Aug. |4, |900.

J. H. snuLE & N. F. GEECK.

MACHINE FR STRETCHING WIRE CLOTH.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

mz Nowazs Pzvsws co, wovouvna wnnamrcu. o. c.

No. 655,914. Patented Aug. I4, |900.

J. H. SOULE & N. F. GEECK.

MACHINE FR STRETCHING WIRE CLOTH.

4 (Application led Dec. 18, 1899.) l

(llwdodel.)

2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Nrrnn STATES VPlYrENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN I-I. SOUL` AND NICHOLAS F. GEECK, OF OVVOSSO, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR sTRsrcHlNc wlR-CLQTH.

srn'crrrcArroN forminglpart of Letters Parent No. 655,914, dated August 14, reco.l

Application iledDecember 18, 1899. Serial No. 740;'7461 (No model.)

T0 all whom t may conceive:

Bc it known that we, JONATHAN H. SOULE and NcHoLAs F. GEEGK, citizens of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawasse'e and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Irnprovements in Machines for Stretching Vire or other Cloth; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making apart of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of machines or devices especially designed to facilitate the operation of securing or attaching the wire screen to the framework of screen doors andwindows, whereby the wire-cloth is rendered perfectly secure on the frame when complete.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide mechanism whereby` the screen-cloth, canvas, or other like material may be held in a perfectly-tight condition over the frame to which it is designed to secure it and during the operation of tacking or otherwise attachingthe material to said frame to be used as screen doors or windows or for general purposes where a screen or canvas may be used.

The invention consists in a machine or device constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with our invention, showin git in use to stretch andsecure wire-cloth overthe frames of screendoors; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a transverse section taken on line c se of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a similar view taken on line y y of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view, partly in section, showing the clamp mechanism between the jaws of which the wire-cloth is held.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a suitable frame of rectangular or other shape and supported upon legs or by other means, -as found most preferable.

The frame A has a support B, upon which the frame of the screen-door, as shown at C, or any other frame is supported while being covered with wire-cloth or canvas, as the case may be. In the drawings there is` shown a screen-door frame C, which rests upon the support B,and D represents the Wire cloth or netting for covering said doorlfraine. This netting or cloth is contained in a roll upon a shaft a, which has its ends sustained in bearings formed in the upper ends of the 'standards 7e, so that the shaft can be lifted out when found necessary, or any other suitable and well-known means may be employed for removably supporting the shaft.

A supplemental and transversely-removable frame E is supported in the frame A, said frame carrying'a spring-actuated clamping device F, by which means the wire-cloth is perfectly stretched whilev being secured to the screen-door frame.`v `This clamping device consists of a carrierb, a stationary jaw c, and a movable jaw CZ and spring c, the carrier having tongues j', which fit in guidelgrooves g in the removable frame E, as shown' in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The screen-cloth D is held between the jaws c d, the latter jaw having connected thereto a lever G, said lever being pivoted to the frame E and is springactuated through the medium of the spring h, connected to the lower end of the lever and to the removable frame. This lever G is operated by means of a wire cord or other suitable flexible connection, as shown at c', said connection at `one end being secured to the lower end of the lever and extending over a grooved pulley j, and thence to a Vfoottreadle H, to which the same is secured in any suitable manner, said treadle being suitably pivoted to one of the standards 7e. When bringing the movable jaw d firmly against the wire-cloth to clamp it between the two jaws c d when stretching the cloth over the doorframe C, this movable jaw is thus brought in position by foot-pressure upon the treadle I-I and by means of the rack-bar Z the treadle is held depressed, so that the movable jaw will be retained securely against the Wirecloth and prevent the cloth from slipping be-` tween the jaws. If found desirable, a second grooved pulley may be provided, as shown at m, over which the flexible connection i may extend in order to render the operation of the connection between the pivoted lever G and the foot-treadle H more perfect. The movable jaw d at its` ends engages guide-grooves IOO n, formed in the sides of the carrier l), as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, said grooves being disposed at an angle to a perpendicular.

The faces of the clamping-jaws c d may be provided with felt, rubber, or like soft material, as shown at o, to provide additional security against the wire-cloth slipping.

A pivoted presser-arm I is pivotally connected to the side of the frame A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and is provided at its upper end with a presser-block J. The presser-arm I is operated by a pivoted foot-trip K, which presses the lower end of the arm outward, andin consequence the upper end of said arm is forced inward, bringing the presser-block J rmly against the overlapping edge of the screen-cloth D. The longitudinal edge of the screen-cloth is thus heldydown against the side of the door-frame C while being secured thereto. In order to hold the door-frame C stationary upon the support B while the screen-cloth is being secured to the frame, suitable lugsp r are provided, which are secured to the support and against which the frame abuts, thereby preventing the frame from moving laterally or longitudinally. Any suitable and wellknown means may be employed to hold the doorframe stationary upon the support as found most desirable, as we do not Wish to be understood as confining ourselves to the lugs or any other similar means. 'Ihis presser-arm I is spring-actuated through the medium of the spring L, which is connected thereto and to one of the supports or legs of the frame A, at the opposite side thereof, and when pressure is released from the foottrip K the spring L will force the upper end of the presser-arm outward, which is accomplished after the cloth is properly secured to the side of the door-frame.

After the door or other frameis placed upon the support B of the frame A and one end of the wire-cloth secured thereto foot-pressure is applied to the treadle H and through its connections with the pivoted lever G- the jaw d will move upward and outward, or in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to meet the stationary jaw c, between which jaws the wire-cloth is held. As the movable -jaw meets the stationaryjaw and further pressure is applied to the foottreadle it will cause the carrier l), or, in other words, the complete clamping device F, t-o be m'oved forward a suicient distance to properly stretch the wire-cloth over the frame of the screen door in a direction lengthwise thereof and so retained by the treadle engaging with the rack-bar Z until the wire-cloth is securely fastened by tacking or otherwise to the ends of the screen-door frame, after which the foot-treadle is released and the spring e forces the clamping device F back to its former position. The spring 71 will force the lever G, with its movable jaw d, back to the position it formerly occupied previous to pressure being applied tothe foot-lever H.

Any suitable and well-known means may be employed for operating the movable jawA canvas or other cloth or any material required to, be stretched over a frame.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters/Patent, is-` 1. A machine for stretching wire or other cloth or canvas while being secured to its frame, comprising a suitable bench or frame, a spring-actuated clamping device consisting of a movable carrier provided with a stationary clamping-jaw and a movable clampingjaw, a spring-actuated pivoted lever to which the movable jaw is connected, and means for operating both the carrier and the pivoted lever, consisting of a suitable foot-'treadle and an intermediate connection between the lever and treadle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A machine for stretching wire or other cloth or canvas while being secured to its frame, comprising a suitable bench or frame, a supplemental frame connected to the main frame, a spring-actuated clamping device movable in the supplemental frame and consisting of a carrier having inclined guide= grooves upon its sides, a stationary jaw and a movable jaw with means for operating it, said movable jaw engaging the inclined grooves whereby its movement will be at an angle to a perpendicular, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A machine for stretching wire or other cloth or canvas while being secured to its frame, comprising a suitable device for stretching the cloth lengthwise, and a device for holding the overlapping edge of the cloth against the side of the door-frame, consisting of a pivoted and spring-actuated presser-bar provided at its upper end with a presserblock, and means for operating said bar, consisting of a pivoted foot-trip operating upon the lower end of the bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4t. A machine for stretching wire or other cloth or canvas while being secured to its frame, comprising a suitable bench or frame, a supplemental frame connected thereto having guide-grooves, a spring-actuated clamping device consisting of a carrier engaging the guide-grooves and provided with a stationary clamping -jaw and inclined guidegrooves, a movable jaw engaging the inclined guide-grooves, and suitable means for operating the carrier and the movable jaw successively, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A machine for stretching wire or other IIS end with a presser-block, and a pivoted foot trip for operating the bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that We claim the above We have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JONATHAN H. SOULE. NICHOLAS F. GEECK.

'\Vitnesses:

GEO. P. JAGKRIDER, GEO. A. NEEDHAM. 

